Coordination Chemistry of Cyclic Disilylated Germylenes and Stannylenes with Group 11 Metals

Reactions of Et₃P adducts of bissilylated germylenes and stannylenes with gold, silver, and copper cyanides led to cyanogermyl or -stannyl complexes of the respective metals. In the course of the reaction the phosphine moved to the metal, while the cyanide migrated to the low-coordinate group 14 element. The respective gold complexes were found to be monomeric, whereas the silver and copper complexes exhibited a tendency to dimerize in the solid state. Attempts to abstract the phosphine ligand with B­(C₆F₅)₃ led only to the formation of adducts with the borane coordinating to the cyanide nitrogen atom.